Brides doing their own make up (product recommendations needed)

I usually use Clinique, which is long lasting and good quality. My sister went to their counter for a "make over" and bought the products suggested.

I am having a make up artist and she used MAC products, which are long lasting. My make up was still on after a whole day shopping following my trial including no "eye shadow creases" on my lids, which I was amazed at.

Hope this helps and you find products you're happy with for your day

Kaye x

Clinique are lovely products, their foundations, powders and concealors are really good. MAC is also very good with their eyeshadows, lipsticks and blushers being good. To keep your makeup long lasting you need primers. Laura Mercier do very good primers for your face and to help your eyeshadow stay on and stay crease free then MAC Prep and Prime Eye is excellent.

Aimee x

I've got Clinique powder (think it's called Invisible Blend) which is very good. I had a makeover at the Estee Lauder counter and I'm definitely buying their foundation for the wedding. Ask for Double Wear - it seriously lasts all day and covers all my blotches without looking overdone. I wore it on hoilday in super hot and sweaty Barcelona and didn't even need to top it up for the evening - that's good enough for me!

Let us know what you decide as I'm still looking for eyeshadow, lipstick etc.

Hello.. There was a thread not too long ago along the same lines and here is what I would recommend (I am a fully qualified make-up magpie and used to work for Dior):

Touche Eclat - YSL/ Clinique/ Body Shop equivilant for under your eyes

Foundation - MAC all the way! Their concealer is awesome too.

Blush - MAC creme blush in Lillicent is always a winner.

Highlighter - cream called Pearl by MAC (looks lovely in photos and accentuates cheekbones)

Mascara - Lancome or Clinique waterproof. I have tried ALL mascaras and these are the best. Although now I don't use mascara at all and have fake ones - www.jinnylash.com

Primer/ base: BECCA/ Laura Mercier (helps foundation stay in place)

Always use a loose powder to set your make up too.

As for a make up trial I would try MAC. Always take note of the person working on the counter - is their make-up orange? Do they appear to apply their blush with a trowel? If so, STEER CLEAR! They will only make you look like a fellow oompa-loompa!!

Hope this helps x

I wear Laura Mercier every day and it's all fab! When we got married (yonks ago!) I went to the Estee Lauder counter and had a makeover..they were great, and the double wear foundation is really fabulous.

I think I'll be doing the same - then I can keep all the make up

I'm listening to all the great advice here. I love benefit benetint and wear it most days on my cheeks and lips - a blushing bride look - and also the high beam which helps my skin look all dewy again once the rest has been put on.

Thanks so much for all your suggestions (please keep them coming) This is a great help and it's good to see lots of people are suggesting similar ranges. I will be sure to watch out for the oompa loompas too!!!?

Another fan of Estee Lauder double wear! I prefer Estee Lauder make up to MAC - on my skin anyway!

I also love Guerlain bronzer (has some shimmery bits in) & Max Factor mascara.

Apparently Bobbi Brown do some fab eye shadow pots that I want to try.

I'm also doing my own on the day. I've been looking into it and trying lots of different products for a while. I've recently bought a Laura Mercier concealer that is expensive but amazing (my skin is dreadful at the mo and it covers it incredibly well). I'm swaying between Estee Lauder Double Wear and a Chanel foundation at the mo - can't quite make up my mind - the Chanel ones come highly recommended by lots of people. Chanel is great for giving out little samples to try. I had a make-over with Mac - which was great - I'll be using their eyeshadows and prob blusher/bronzer. I'll be using a Bobbi Brown or Mac eyeliner and probably a Lancome mascara.

Good luck!

Hi

Im planning on doing my own make up and i know mac are excellent, so as im in london I will book a makeover at the mac counter in harrods (they give the best service) it costs £20 and is redeamable against any products you buy, i will take a pic of the makeup so i can copy it myself and just buy all the products I need. i think mac has one of the best colour ranges for skin and make up, but for a product like a primer you may want to look at benefit or one of the other ones mentioned above. I think Bobbi Brown does good natural looking make up if that is the look you want. My friend who got married the other year had an evening wedding and so went along to mac that morning to have it done, and she looked amazing! :-)

I'm not a big make-up wearer, but Touche Eclait is an absolute godsend!

Hi, I went to Debenhams today to look into the whole make up idea a bit more but no one was working on the Estee Lauder counter. The lady who was working on the clinique counter offered to help and I told her I had been advised that the 'double wear' range was good and what I wanted it for. She told me that the foundations are not recommended for bridal make up as in photographs it reflects the light and can make you look pale?! Was just wondering if anyone knew if this was true or if this was just her sales pitch for her clinique range. This is so complicated!!!

Hiya, I've never heard of Double Wear reflecting the light - quite the opposite actually. It's a very thick foundation and is long lasting but I didn't get on with it - personally made me look orange (like the aforementioned oompa loompa) and gave me a very obvious tidemark as I was inbetween two shades.

Personally I would take what some of the girls on the counters say about other brands with a large pinch of salt - it is in their interests to sell their products as they get commission. This is why I didn't last very long in cosmetics - was far too honest and told people what I actually thought the best brand was and it wasn't always the one I worked for!!

Don't be swayed by over zealous cosmestics workers - like I say they will try their hardest to make you buy whatever it is they are selling. Just avoid all the ladies who appear to have dipped their face in a vat of orange goop - you may like the products they are selling but they won't be best placed to advise on the correct shade for you!

Hope your next cosmetics shop goes a bit smoother - keep me posted! x

Hi Kate!

I'm also doing my own, and will wear what I usually use as that's what I'm used to - apart from may try and find a stronger foundation as I usually mix it with tinted moisturiser for daily stuff.

I would think stick to what you usually use if you are happy with it and if it lasts the whole day. If you are going to have a counter make-over I would suggest wearing the same colour top as your dress so that you can see how your skin tone/make-up will look next to that shade.

brand wise I work for a cosmetics company so probably can't name it for advertising reasons, but have you looked at bobbie brown? they do a lot of natural=looking 'looks', though personally I would go for mineral toxic free makeup so maybe Laura Mercier? (I don't work for either!!)

good luck, maybe post some pics of make-up on other brides/models that you like?